The Romans and their gods in the age of Augustus

"The author makes it possible for the modern reader to appreciate the real feeling behind the seemingly conventional and formalistic imprecations and appeals to the gods of Roman literature, and to understand the faith which sustained many of Rome's most distinguished citizens. He makes wide us of original material (all of which is quoted in translation) to give a picture of religious life at Rome between 80 B.C. and A.D. 69. He tells us how the Romans prayed; what happened at a sacrifice; what sort of gods they believed in and how seriously they took their religion." [Back cover].